Gregor Samsa wakes up one morning to find he has been transformed into a gigantic insect. This extraordinary tale of imagination was written by Kafka against the backdrop of increasing turmoil in central Europe and remains not just an affecting tale but a disturbing allegory. Download and start listening now!

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Listener Opinions

Michael Gordon | 2/19/2014

" Was it a strange dream, I don't know? The things people do for their own blood. "

Whitney Watercutter | 2/13/2014

" Yeah Yeah, he turns into a bug. It's just "okay." Had to read in college, didn't care for it. I know it's supposed to be philosophically important, but it's one of those important books you read to say you read it, not because you like it. "

Tiffany Stewart | 2/8/2014

" I got it but the bug thing kept freaking me out. "

Amber | 2/6/2014

" If you like no clear endings and a twisted world full of strange people and ideas, read Kafka. "

Terry Irving | 2/5/2014

" It's like medicine. Just read it because you need to to be an educated person but don't expect to like it. "

Rachel | 1/22/2014

" One of my top ten favorite books. Terribly sad. "

A | 1/19/2014

" Beklemmend. Steeds weer. Veelvuldig herlezen. "

Jones | 12/6/2013

" The main character was comforting, and easy to connect with, but the book hasn't been very memorable. "

Tyler Hudson | 11/7/2013

" Hated it. The only thing I liked was the concept of a giant cockroach. "

Amanda | 11/3/2013

" I wanted to read this because I never did in high school. I thought it was a very entertaining story and quick read. "

Haydon Douglas | 9/18/2013

" Crazy story. Man's life is taken away in an instant. Brilliantly written. "

Cassie | 3/23/2013

" Read in AP English. I think it's a great intro to Existentialism. I liked it well enough to write a whole 8-frame comic in my spare time. "

Alma BarrÃ³n | 12/28/2012

" One day, Gregory wakes up and discovers he has turned into a giant bug, what will happen next? his family? his work? all of his life? "

Kathy Smith | 4/2/2012

" I have read this book twice, once in English and once in German. I am very familiar with this book, and enjoyed it as a classic literary book. "

Stephanie Angelini | 10/17/2011

" Extremely thought provoking. He captures mundane emotions with amazing precision, especially the dynamics of the unhealthier aspects of family. Part of the fun (and genius) is that it is a multi-layered fable that can be read many ways and as a metaphor for many things. "

Andd Becker | 8/27/2011

" This classic tale of transformation and family dynamics is appealing and thought-provoking. Read it every ten years. Ask yourself which family member you identify with. "

Derek | 7/14/2011

" Poor guy turns into a bug. "

Tiffany | 5/21/2011

" The title story is great, of course, but the reason I give this collection a 5 instead of a 4 was because of "A Hunger Artist".
"

Lisa | 5/17/2011

" only read the metamorphosis.. found it very interesting, although somewhat strange
"

Goleta | 4/23/2011

" i only read metamorphosis. Had to read it for school. Twice!
"

Katie | 4/21/2011

" I don't get it. These stories are completely bizarre. The opening lines really drag you in, but then the stories have no real build up or resolution. If I were the judge, I would not give these stories the status of classics. That's really all I have to say about this.
"

Darrell | 4/20/2011

" One of the classics. Well worth a read.
"

Yare | 4/15/2011

" it was an interesting book, with different stories, one of my favorites is the metamorphosis but was a little sad at the end.. but most dificult was the way Kafka express his ideas, or the situation on the stories.
"

Cooper | 4/11/2011

" Contains the texts that Kafka published (or prepared for publication?) during his life.
"

Robert | 4/11/2011

" In The Penal Colony ... now there's a mental image that will stay with me, unfortunately!
"

Zakiya | 4/6/2011

" I read this book in college as part of the Fiction Writing curriculum. We actually had to write a parody of The Metamorphosis. It's good reading though. I enjoyed his work.
"

Dodokins | 3/4/2011

" What can I say? There are people crazier than I.
"

Reznik | 2/22/2011

" The Penal Colony was a great short story
"

Sonia | 2/3/2011

" One of the most disgusting and wonderful books Kafka has written. I was grossed out by the description of the cockroach, no doubt. Loved the story and the story telling.
"

Kate | 1/21/2011

" Kafka is one of those iconic writers that I really want to like but just don't. I love the premises of his stories, but I find them a chore to actually read. His language is overly formal and rather obfuscatory to me, which is perhaps intentional on his part, but in reality really puts me off.
"

Other Titles by Franz Kafka:

About the Author

Franz Kafka (1883–1924), one of the major fiction writers of the twentieth century, was born to a middle-class German-speaking Jewish family in Prague. His unique body of writing, much of which is incomplete and was mainly published posthumously, is considered by some people to be among the most influential in Western literature, inspiring such writers as Albert Camus, Rex Warner, and Samuel Beckett.

About the Narrator

Martin Jarvis, OBE, has recorded more than 150 Just William stories for the BBC. These have become international
audio bestsellers. He won the Theatre World Award for his starring role on
Broadway in By Jeeves; his West End
appearances include works by Ayckbourn, Frayn, Pinter, and Wilde. Screen
successes include everything from Stargate
Atlantis, Doctor Who, and Numb3rs to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and the Oscar-winning Titanic.

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